Switch for emergency stop flasher signal system



g 19, 1952 J. R. HOLLINS 2,607,864

SWITCH FOR EMERGENCY STOP FLASHER SIGNAL SYSTEM Original Filed April 12, 1949 I Q'E'INVENTOR.

JESSE E. HOLL/NS BY I ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 19, 1952 SWITCHFORQEM'ERGENCY STOPIFLASHER SIGNAL SYSTEM JesseR.fHolli11s, Brooklyn, N. Y.

OriginaI application April .12, .1949, Serial No. 87,010. Divided and this application March 11, 1'950, Serial No. 149,129

' last few years, these vehicles have'been equipped with extra lamps operated by a selector switch to indicate turning movement of the vehicle, andare frequently equipped with special emergency stop warning lamps. These extra lamps and their control switches add 'to the expense and complex-i-tycf the electric lighting system of the vehicle. 7

In my copending application Serial N o. 79, 878

filed March 5, 1949, which issued as US. Patent 2,562,273 on July '31, 1951, for Directional Lamp Switch, I have shown and described a novel switch associated with a flasher unit and a pilot lamp whereby the vehicle parking and/or stop lamps maybe selectively flashed to indicate a turning movement. The switch includes circuit closure members normally connecting the parking and stop lamp circuits to their respective control circuits. An additional circuit closure member is provided and is arranged normally to be inoperativ-e while "being selectively operable by a projec'ting handle to energize the parking and/or stop lamps on one or the other side of the vehicle" through 'a circuit including a flasher unit.

Thereby, either the left-hand or the right-hand parking and/or stop lamps are flashed to indicate a turning movement. At the same time, a pilot or indicator lamp within the operators field of vision is flashed to indicate operation of the directional circuit.

In accordance with the present invention, a further circuit closure or circuit bridge member is provided which is normally engaged with one of the above mentioned circuit closure members and is disengaged from, or out of contact with, the other mentioned circuit closure member. This bridge member has a releasable, frictional engagement with the switch handle, so that it normally moves with the latter while maintaining its -pre-set relation to the mentioned circuit closure members. That is, the bridgemember is normally in contact with the circuit closure members connecting the marker lamps to their normal control circuits and is out of contact with the circuit closure member which is selectively realms- (01. 200-11) operative to'connect the marker lamps in the direction circuit.

Should the vehicle make an emergency stop, or park along the highway, the bridge member is moved relative to the switch handle and such movement positions the bridge member to'electr i cally interconnect all the switch circuit closure members. Through an added contact on'the directional circuit closure members'all the marker lamps are simultaneously connected to be energized through the flasher unit. Thus, all the marker lamps are flashed to give warning of the emer ency stopped condition of the vehicle.

With the foregoingin mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel emergency stop signalling system for vehicles.

Another object is to provide such a system utilizing conventional vehicle lamp circuits.

A further object isto provide a novel switch and associated circuit elements wherebyconventiona-l parking and/or stop lamp circuits may be utilized to provide emergency stop warning 'sigQ nals.

These, andother objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will. be apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying drawing In the drawing: g (Fig. 1 is a schematic wiring diagram of vehicle parking and stop lamp circuits embodying'the invention; g

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a novelswitch accord ing to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the switch; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the movable direction indicating contact member of theswitch; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on theline 5-.5 ofFigAi; I Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the emergency stop signal bridge contact memberjaccording to.

the invention; ,and

Fig. 57 is a transverse sectional view on the line} 'l.1ofFi'g.'2.

Referring to Fig. 1,. a vehicle marker lamp arrangement is illustrated as including parking lamps ill, 19, which may he on the front of the vehicle, .a battery :20 grounded at 2!, stop lamps l5, l5 grounded at I9, a parking lamp control switch l and a brake actuated stop lamp switch l6. Switches H and 16 are connected inparallel to batter 26 .and, in the present case, are connected to their respective lamp circuits through anovel, selectively operable switch 25.

i he latteri-ncludes an insulating plate 25'on which are mounted a first set of contacts l2,; l2";

and I3 and a diametrically opposite set ofwcon-e- 3 tacts I1, l1 and I8. A seventh contact 21 is mounted midway between contacts I12 and I1. All of the contacts are arranged equidistant from the center of plate 26, and the distance of contact 21 from contact I2 or I1 is twice the spacing of the contacts of each set of three.

Contacts-I 2, [2 are connected-to parking lamps I0, Ill respectively, commonly grounded at I4. Contact I3 is connected to switch II. Contacts I1, I1 are connected to stop lamps I5, I5 respectively, and contact I8 is connected to switch I6. Contact 21 through fiasher unit which has a movable contact 3I controlling the energization of a pilot or indicator lamp grounded at 32. When flasher 30 is energized, contact 3| intermittently,

energizes lamp 35, which flashes in synchronism with operation of the flasher.

is connected to battery 20 '4 Figs. 2 through 7 illustrate an actual embodiment of switch 25. Contacts I2, I2, I3, I1, I1, I8 and 21 serve as rivets to secure plate 26 to an insulating bracket 46 having an arcuate end 41 to embrace the vehicle steering column.

Bracket 46 has a circular aperture forming a bearing" fora cylindrical end on a polygonal 'cross-section shaft 48 fitting mating apertures in plate 36 and handle 45. The opposite cylindrical end of shaft 48 has a bearing fit in a bracket 52 secured to bracket 46. Contact members 31, 38 and 40 are riveted to plate 36, member 40 being separated from members 31, 38 by a dielectric spacer 5I.

Plate 55 has bridge members 60, 6D riveted v thereto and has. a circular aperture 56 fitting loosely aroundshaft 48.

A second and smaller insulating plate 36 is rotatably mounted on plate 26 and carries diametrically opposite closure members 31, 38, each having three arms arranged, in the position shown in Fig. 1, to engage contacts I2, I2, I3 and I1, I1, I8, respectively. Thus, in the position of Fig. 1, switch II is in circuit with both lamps -l0, l8 through member 31, and switch I6 is in circuit with both lamps I5, I5 through member 38. Consequently, closure of either switch II or I6 will light both of its respective lamps.

Plate 36 carries a second contact closure member 4fl having a pair of divergent arms H, 42 projecting from one side midway between mem bers 31, 38, and three arms 36, 43, 44 projecting from the opposite side. Arm 39 normally engages contact 21. An operating handle or lever is secured to and projects from plate 36 and, when the-plate is rotated clockwise one step, arm 4| engages contact I2, arm 43 engages contact 21, and arm 44 engages contact I1.

Accordingly, lamp I8 is energized over the following circuit: battery 20, flasher unit 30, contact 21, arm 43, member 46, arm M and contact I2. Lamp I5 is correspondingly energized through unit 38, am 44 and contact I1. Lamps I0, I5 are thus flashed, While lamps I0, l5 remain steadily lighted. Lamp 35 is likewise flashed" in synchronism with the flasher vunit, as described. A flashing right turn signal is thus provided, with operativeness indicated by lamp 35. A corresponding action takes place when lever 45 is moved one step counter-clockwise to signal a left turn.

' In accordance with the invention, a second movable insulating plate is provided carrying diametrically opposite bridge contacts 66,

In a manner described hereinafter, plate 55 is.

releasably constrained to move with lever 45, but may be moved independently thereof. Contacts 60, 60' normally engage only members 31, 38, respectively, being releasably held in angularly spaced relation to the arms of member 40, irrespective of movement of lever 45 and plate 36.

To indicate an emergency stop, plate 55 is moved in either direction relative to handle 45. This movement causes bridge 60 to electrically interconnect members 40 and 31, and bridge 60' to electrically interconnect members 40 and 38. As one of the arms 39, 43, 44 is in engagement with contact 21 in any of the three switch positions, such movement of plate 55 efiects connection of all the lamps to the battery through the flasher unit and through members 40, 31 and 38. Consequently, all the lamps IO, I0, I5, I5" are simultaneously flashed, as well as pilot or indicator lamp 35.

The plate has an upwardly offset surface 51 engaging the inner end of handle 45 and an upwardly offset radial extension 58 alignable with handle 45. Extension 58 is relatively wide, and has a central depression 59 fitting handle 45. Depression 59 serves to releasably lock plate 55 to move with handle 45; Relative movement of plate 55 and handle 45 to provide an emergency stop warning is efiected by simply pushing the edge of extension 58 in one direction or the other relative to handle 45. I

The arrangement is not limited to parking or stop lamps, but may be used with other conventional lamps such as fog lamps, for example. The circuit arrangement and novel switch. are simple and inexpensive. 1 I

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shownand described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles thereto, it should be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is: r

1. For use with a vehicle lighting system; a selector switch, including a fixed member carrying a pair of first contacts, a second contact intermediate said first contacts and a third contact,- a first movable member carrying a first circuit closure comprising a conductor having spaced fingers adapted in respective positions to connect either or both of said first contacts to said second contact and a second circuit closure comprising a conductor continuously engaged with said third contact and having spaced fingers adapted in respective positions to connect either of said first contacts to said third contact, and a second member releasably engaged to move with said first movable member and carrying a circuit bridge member comprising a conductornorma-lly engaged only with said first circuit closure, said, second movable member being movable relative to said first-movablemember to engage aid circuit bridge member with both of said circuit closures.

'2. For use with a vehicle lighting system; a selector switch including a fixed member carrying a pair of first contacts, a second contact intermediate said first contacts, and a third contact, a first movable member carrying a first circuit closure comprising a conductor having spaced fingers adapted in respective positions to connect either or both of said first contacts to saidsecond contact and a second circuit closure comprising a conductor continuously engaged with said third contact and having spaced fingers adapted in respective positions to connect either of said first contacts to said third contact, a second member carrying a circuit bridge member comprising a conduct-ornormally engaged only with said first circuit closure, a shaft rotatably mounted in said fixed member and secured to rotate with said first movable member, said second movable member being rotatable on said shaft, a switch operating handle secured to said shaft and means releasably constraining said second movable member to move with said handle, said second movable member being movable relative to said handle to engage said circuit bridge member with both of said circuit closures.

3. For use with a vehicle lighting system, a selector switch including a fixed member carrying a pair of first contacts, a second contact intermediate said first contacts, and a third contact, a first movable member carrying a first circuit closure comprising a conductor having spaced fingers adapted in respective positions to connect either or both of said first contacts to said second contact and a second circuit closure comprising a conductor continuously engaged with said third contact and having spaced fingers adapted in respective positions to connect either of said first contacts to said third contact, a second member carrying a circuit bridge member comprising a conductor normally engaged only with said first circuit closure, a shaft rotatably mounted in said fixed member and secured to rotate with said first movable member, said second movable member being rotatable on said shaft, a switch operating handle secured to said shaft and means releasably constraining said second movable member to move with said handle, said handle being movable from a neutral position, in which said first closure connects both first contacts to said second contact, to either of a pair of second positions in which said first closure connects one first contact to said second contact and said second closure connects the other first contact to said third contact, said second movable member, in each of said positions, being releasably retained by said handle in engagement with only said first closure, and said second movable member being movable relative to said handle to engage said circuit bridge memher with both of said circuit closures.

4. For use with a vehicle lighting system, a selector switch including a fixed member carrying opposing pairs of first contacts, a pair of opposing second contacts one being intermediate each pair of said first contacts, and a third contact, a first movable member carrying a pair of first circuit closures each comprising a conductor having spaced fingers adapted in respective positions to connect either or both of a pair of first contacts to a second contact and a second circuit closure comprising a conductor continuously engaged with said third contact and having spaced finger adapted in respective positions to connect a first contact of each pair to said third contact, a second movable member carrying a pair of circuit bridge members each comprising a conductor normally engaged only with a first circuit closure, a shaft rotatably mounted in said fixed member and secured to rotate with said first movable member, said second movable member being rotatable on said shaft, a switch operating handle secured to said shaft and means releas-ably constraining said second movable member to move with said handle, said handle being movable from a neutral position, in which each first closure connects a pair of first contacts to a second contact to either of a pair of second positions in which each first closure connects one first contact of a pair to a second contact and each second closure connects the other first contact of a pair to said third contact, said second movable member, in each of said positions, being releasably retained by said handle in engagement with only said first closures, and said second movable member being movable relative to said handle to interconnect each first closure to a second closure through a circuit bridge member.

JESSE R. HOLLINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,231,361 "Hunt Jan. 26, 1917 1,704,709 Murray Mar. 2, 1929 2,086,959 Rom July 13, 1937 2,122,508 Bell July 5, 1938 2,456,242 Bailey s Dec. 14, 1%8 

